Driven by our Trust values: Integrity, Compassion, Inclusion and Ambition; the Trust's vision is to provide high quality care to the diverse communities we serve to make their lives better. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Our cultural diversity, long term conditions and disabilities, and LGBTQIA staff networks are a key part of this commitment, creating positive change and helping build an inclusive culture across the Trust. Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed - our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process. Options for flexible working are considered for all roles within EEC, including job share opportunities, compressed hours, annualised hours, tailored working patterns and more. If you are interested in flexible working, please talk to the recruiting manager for this vacancy. Please note, the selection processes at East of England Community Health and Care are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored, we remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills. Job overview Highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Schools Lead (Luton) Are you passionate about Speech and Language Therapy? Can you deliver highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy with confidence and expertise? Would you like to be part of a talented, skilled, and compassionate team of Speech and Language Therapists and Support Practitioners? Are you seeking a new challenge and motivated to make a real difference? We are recruiting for an enthusiastic Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist — a first-class clinician with strong communication and interpersonal skills — to join our friendly and welcoming team. The post holder will take delegated responsibility for the coordination and clinical management of the mainstream school service within the Luton locality. They will independently manage a community caseload and provide supervision and guidance to SLT colleagues. The role will also involve setting priorities, leading service developments, and carrying out audits in collaboration with other school leads and senior management. Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 31.03.2026 Advert The post holder will be responsible for the management of a clinical caseload in mainstream schools. The role will involve working independently and managing complex cases. As a schools lead, the post holder will supervise and support more junior staff and contribute to service improvement and re-development. Working for our organisation Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives. There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey. If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development. Detailed job description and main responsibilities 1. To work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of professions across a variety of locations and agencies. 2. To identify priorities for caseload and workforce management across mainstream schools in Luton. 3. To identify gaps in local provision and report/escalate concerns to the Locality Lead as appropriate. 4. To independently manage a caseload of school age children who have speech, and language communication difficulties. 5. To undertake a range of assessments, both standardised and non-standardised, taking account of medical, social and educational factors, which combined with highly specialist theoretical knowledge will lead to differential diagnosis. 6. To plan, deliver and evaluate highly specialist intervention following professional guidelines and agreed service standards. 7. As part of that process, to plan appropriate long-term and short-term goals working towards discharge. 8. T o understand and have a sound working knowledge of the EHCP process and the SEND appeal and tribunals process. 9. To have a sound working knowledge of relevant procedures / statutory requirements including; Safeguarding Children, SEND procedures and other legal frameworks. 10. To assess, diagnose and make recommendations for EHCPs, based on evidence and outcome-based models. 11. To undertake speech and language therapy assessments and compile reports to support the process for EHCP appeals and tribunals. 12. To explore the SALT provision that is already in place and offer support around rationale for this provision, together with any additional tailored clinical input that might be agreed. 13. To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need seeking advice as appropriate. 14. To provide training to enable parents and other professionals to support children’s language and communication needs, including colleagues and Local Authority staff, school teaching assistants, communicators, SENDCo’s, teachers and volunteers. 15. To have appropriate knowledge or an awareness of low tech AAC, for example picture exchange and high tech AAC. 16. To provide second opinions and shadowing opportunities for colleagues. 17. To make referrals onto specialist services as required, including Health, Education and / or Social Services. 18. Independently take students on placements for clinical teaching and supervision, including exam placement. 19. Undertake supervision and complete appraisals for SLTs and Support Practitioners. 20. To contribute to the support of newly and recently graduated SLT Staff. 21. To support and take part in the induction and training of new staff to the service. 22. Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical. 23. To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager/ locality lead, including participation in working groups, policy development groups 24. To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development. On April 1st 2026, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust merged to deliver services as a single Trust. Both trusts were high performing specialist community health and care providers individually working in the East of England. Both have a strong track record, with the highest ratings from the Care Quality Commission, best in class NHS staff survey outcomes, and a decade of experience in innovation and clinical development. The group model provides health and care services to a population of 3.2 million in their homes and neighbourhoods. We provide care that supports people from the very beginning to the very end of their lives. Certificate of Sponsorship For roles that are eligible for sponsorship, applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker Visa to work in the UK are welcome, and will be considered alongside all other applications. You are strongly advised to visit Check if you need a UK Visa website ( Opens in a new tab), and familiarise yourself with what is required which should assist you in your understanding of the process From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here. (Opens in a new tab) UK Registration For roles that require professional registration, applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new tab) Our safe recruitment pre-employment checks are undertaken before an appointment is confirmed and may include a DBS check. Where the role requires you to drive, we'll ask you to validate your driving licence online via the DVLA. In submitting an application, you authorise East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed. ALL CORRESPONDENCE will be via the e-mail address on your application form. If you have not been invited to interview within 2 weeks of the closing date, you unfortunately haven’t been successful on this occasion, but keep an eye on our vacancies as a job that’s just right for you may appear!